Hope Deferred

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life." Proverbs 13:12

There is a hope I'm holding onto right now that is currently deferred. In a sense, I am left in the waiting room with legs crossed, bouncing the top one to the rhythm of the sadly mediocre music. I'm flipping through the magazines gazing at the pictures and articles but not really taking them in. My mind is elsewhere. My mind is on the "what if" rather than the what is.

In the midst of the waiting and the hoping, the verse above ran through my mind like the unending pleas of my 2-year-old for "cake, Mommy, cake!" It was as if the Lord was saying "Lauren, pay attention. Turn yourself towards me. Hear what I have to say. Hear what MY desire is for you."

So I turned and this is what I heard.

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life."

Okay. I get it. My heart feels sick because my hope is deferred. And when I get what I want, I'll be happy. Makes sense. No grand revelation here.

But...(a very beautiful "but" I might add)...is there a place I can put my hope that it is never deferred? Sure, I may not get what I think I want or need...but is there something better I can get?

And Psalm 42:5 answered me...

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."

Indeed, there is a better hope. There is a place I can put my hope that is never deferred. Though I may not get what I think I want or need, instead I get Him. He is a hope that is never deferred.

Be Affected...

...by The Ripple Effect.

I have been.

Finally!!

Hawaii in pictures (and a few words)...


First class....is glamorous, glamorous... (yay for aadvantage miles upgrades!)


The view from our hotel room.


Cruising in the convertible. Yes, I know my mouth is ridiculously large. God made me that way.


Matt living out his dream as a soldier in WWII. Pearl Harbor.


The SS Bowfin. I can't imagine living in one of these underwater for any length of time. Aren't our headphones stylish??


The Mighty Mo. Look at those guns!! The ones on the ship are pretty impressive too...



A gorgeous lookout point overlooking the windward side of Oahu.




Matt has really caught on to surfing...just kidding...that's actually a pro-surfer surfing in the Vans Triple Crown at Haleiwa.







Wonderful, glorious Hawaiian shave ice.


Beauty even when it's raining.

Horrible, I know

Two weeks. TWO WEEKS! Since I've posted. Unforgivable :)

You know it's bad when your husband (who usually gives you a hard time about blogging too often) complains that you haven't posted in a while. Practically a miracle. So here's my somewhat lame excuse.

I've been waiting for Matt to get back from Hawaii. Yes, we were in Hawaii (together for about 5 days and then Matt stayed on for a leadership practicum which finished up today). I can't find our camera (boo-hoo!) but thankfully we uploaded most of the pictures onto Matt's computer which is...you guessed it...with him on an airplane headed this way. So as soon as I get my hands on his computer there will be pictures. Until then, you'll have to wait with bated breath :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Reid...lovin' his Big Wheel

Reid's Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Tiffany gave him a Big Wheel for his birthday. What's funny is I remember my brother (Jonathan) vrooming around on his Rambo Big Wheel many years ago. Reid looks a lot like him :) Love you, Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Tiffany!

Reid is Two!!

Two years ago today, Reid was born. I always wanted a November baby. Not really sure why...just did. We enjoyed celebrating with a few friends and family. Lots of cake (thanks Elizabeth!), lots of presents, and most importantly, lots of TRUCKS! Reid is a bit obsessed. I love how excited he gets about them. He's so passionate...kinda like someone I know :) Proof of his obsession:

Farm Day & Halloween

On Tuesday, Audrey and Reid dressed up as farmers for the MDO program's Farm Day. I snapped a few shots before they went to school.






Peter Pan & Cinderella (aka Reid & Audrey)